What is the Regional WARM Line?

Feeling lonely, depressed, isolated or anxious? Feeling the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? Would you like to talk with a peer? The Warm Line offers peer support and addresses some of the challenges facing people with lived experience of mental illness. The line strives to provide opportunities through which participants (staff and callers) can gain valuable work experience and enhance their skills, while offering a much-needed service in a warm, compassionate and flexible environment. The Warm Line is a peer-run telephone service. We empower each other.

The Warm Line operates in Parry Sound, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins. One central tollfree phone number connects you to all of our operators. All calls are kept confidential. You are important to us and so is your call. Please, if you feel you need to, reach out and call us. The Warm Line provides a listening ear, assistance with problem-solving and referrals to appropriate agencies. Call us. We’re here to hear you.

The Warm Line is open to all people with personal lived experience of mental illness; their families, friends and loved ones; their caregivers; and anyone needing a supportive and friendly ear. Concerned about the following?

Mental health concerns

Loneliness

Anxiety or depression

Suicidal thoughts

Substance abuse

Gambling abuse

Homelessness

Chronic hunger

Physical, sexual or emotional abuse

Sleep problems

Employment issues

Relationship issues

Post-partum depression

Give us a call when you need to talk: 1-866-856-9276(WARM)

The Warm Line offers pre-crisis telephone support to anyone. You do not need to be a mental health consumer or have a diagnosis to call us. We are here to listen to anyone and we aim to help people in difficult situations, before they experience a crisis. The Warm Line empowers people with lived experience of mental health services by providing employment opportunities. NISA is a consumer-run initiative and the Warm Line is staffed entirely by those who have used (or currently use) mental health services. Staff undergo a comprehensive training program in peer support and resources, which builds self-esteem, job readiness and effectiveness in their work.

Over the past week your warm line workers have provided me with great care and support. Thank-you.

For more information about the Warm Line please contact our Regional Warm Line Coordinator Martin Boucher at 705-222-6472 ext. 320, or at mboucher@nisa.on.ca

The WARM Line in the news

In 2013, our then Warm Line Coordiantor, Kaarina Ranta, participated in an interview with CBC Morning North. She spoke of the Warm Line’s expansion, how it’s being overwhelmed with calls, the importance of our service, and how her own life has been touched by mental illness. To hear that interview, click here. The written article on this piece can be read here.

More information about the history of the Warm Line, and it’s expansion over the last few years can be read in a Prezi prepared by our Executive Director, Shana Calixte. That Prezi can be viewed here.

About Us

NISA is an organization run by and for consumers of mental health services. We develop occupational skills, nurture self-confidence and provide resources for recovery by creating opportunities for participants to contribute to their own well-being and that of their community.

Being, belonging, becoming, for all mental health consumers.

Testimonials

"It’s a warm, friendly environment that feels like a home away from home. I haven’t been able to paint at home for the last six months, but I can find enough inner peace at NISA to be creative and active as a painter."

"Over the past week your warm line workers have provided me with great care and support. Thank-you."